Musa Abdullahi Sufi
3 July 2008
World Environment Day (WED) is marked on June 5, annually in more than a hundred countries in the world. It is one of the most popular days on the United Nations calendar and environmentalists across the world.
The day was established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly. WED is hosted every year by different countries and cities. The United Nations Environmental Programmes (UNEP) created in 1972 uses WED to stimulate awareness about the environment and enhance political attention and public action.
The World Environment Day is time and an opportunity to create and raise awareness and to also promote action on national and international environmental issues. Every country can tie-in their own environmental and sustainable activities as well as initiatives and messages through the planned events and activities while taking advantage of the day's status and media focus as well.
This year, New Zealand hosted the World Environment Day on June 5, 2008 in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Ministry of the Environment is the lead government agency coordinating the events alongside UNEP.
Like in every year celebration, the theme for this year's World Environment Day is climate change with a focus on moving towards a low carbon economy and lifestyle. "Kick the Habit" ('carbon habit') is the international slogan for the event. It's (theme) will also include the role of forest conservation and sustainable forestry in achieving domestic and global climate change goals.
According to Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, "climate change and biodiversity loss are the two major planetary environmental threats facing mankind and they are closely interlinked." This statement is absolutely linked to the theme.
The climate change threats to biodiversity have recently been seen as a threat to international security and peace. These two strongly linked issues (Climate and biodiversity) interfere with and even retard development that is being made to achieve Millennium Development Goals- (MDGs). The problem could increase international conflicts over land access and resources while affecting global economies and international trade in the long or short run.
It is time to call our leaders and all stakeholders to showcase environment as the forefront agenda. Nigeria is known since early 1970's and 1980's for issues that affects the environment. There are some signs of commitment by the Nigerian government of recent and hope it will improve. It is sad if we recall the environmental policies in Nigeria, but these are largely unimplemented and unknown. We need to act, as the environmental problem is global and we are part of the Global Village.
There are many little things we can do to mark the WED. These include, cycle, recycle, re-use, take a bus and leave your car at home, reduce your rubbish and waste by half this week, use less electricity and less water, walk where possible, plant a tree, speak to family and friends to be environmentally conscious, engage in the media, call our leaders, learn about environmental threats and more. The responsibility to take care of our earth is ours. We need to act now as the time is now; at all levels individuals, community and government level.
Let's join hands to celebrate the World Environmental Day annually by doing little activities. May God bless us and our Planet Earth.
Musa Abdullahi Sufi is currently studying his Masters Degree on Environmental Management; Geography Department, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. He is an International Environmental Sustainability Advocate.
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